Vol 6 Chapter 539: Pride

It was the second day that Feng Yiping returned to Silicon Valley, and when his parents stopped talking about the Gates mansion, Microsoft finally reacted. They raised the price to Yahoo again, and it happened to be 2 billion US dollars.

Feng Yiping estimated that the reason why Microsoft responded so slowly should be because of Ballmer.

For Ballmer, the acquisition of Yahoo has too much meaning.

For Ballmer, the acquisition of Yahoo is not only an important task, but also of great strategic significance.

Ballmer has always felt that the larger the company, the more it will benefit, and the acquisition of Yahoo will quickly expand the scale of their online advertising and search.

This actually echoes Ballmer's ambitions. He hopes that Microsoft under his leadership will become a leader not only in the field of operating systems and office software, but in many fields.

The success of Google and Facebook fully demonstrated the potential of online advertising, media and social networking. He not only hopes that Microsoft can make a difference in this area, but also hope that Microsoft can lead in these areas.

At least, it can become second.

But the fact is that Microsoft is currently doing nothing in these areas, let alone second place.

In the social field, Microsoft has not yet started, and the media field is at most included. They have MSN, but in the search field, they can only be regarded as a layman.

According to the data of the first quarter, the number one Google's market share in the United States was as high as 65.98%.

Yahoo, in second place, occupies 20.94%. Although Microsoft is in third place, it has only 6.9%.

And we all know that from a search perspective, the market share of online advertising and search share can be said to be directly proportional.

This can be said to be the main reason for Ballmer's determination. If Yahoo can be acquired, then Microsoft will become the second most important in the US search field.

According to the habit of American users who always hate the industry boss, think it is hegemony, and like to support the industry second, Microsoft will undoubtedly make rapid progress in this field.

The acquisition of Yahoo will also allow Microsoft to become the dominant player in the US market in one fell swoop. Microsoft's Hotmail has a market share of 25.54% in the US email market and Yahoo's 54.63%. Together, they will exceed 80%.

There are also online maps. They are currently 12.84%, Yahoo’s 22.64%, and the total is more than 35%. Compared with Google’s 50.62%, it is no longer out of reach...

From a personal point of view, it can also be said that this is Ballmer's effort to establish his prestige.

As the founder of Gates, his achievements are too dazzling. As the successor of Gates, if you don't want to be regarded as a little transparent by everyone, you must do something.

Why did Feng Yiping talk to Gates instead of Ballmer to give up? It is also because he is very clear that on this issue, Gates is obviously easier to persuade.

And let Gates and Ballmer talk about this issue, obviously the effect will be better.

But it seems that Gates and Ballmer also spent a lot of talking about this issue.

He stood in front of the window, looking at the park where he was not affected by the news at all, wondering if he should call Ballmer. After all, this big-sounding brother had a good relationship with him.

As if he had a clear heart, he was about to pick up the phone, and Ballmer happened to call.

"Steve, I'm sorry..."

"Feng," Ballmer's voice was not high-pitched, low-pitched and hoarse this time as if he were always giving a speech, "I'm ready to give up,"

"Steve, I want to say that I am sorry that things have developed to the present situation," Feng Yiping said, "I am also sorry that I did not discuss this issue with you face to face, because I know that my proposal is for you. How big the blow will be..."

"Feng, do you think it is really not worth spending 50 billion US dollars?" Ballmer asked.

"Yes, I don't think it's worthwhile to spend $50 billion to acquire Yahoo from any angle."

"I think you have also paid attention to the performance of Yahoo's new advertising system and Panama system. Frankly speaking, although the cost is not generally huge, the effect is really very average."

"I speculate that after applying this system, Yahoo's market share in online advertising will continue to decline."

"More importantly, in the face of competitors like Sun Zhengyi of SoftBank, we all know that $50 billion may not necessarily be the final price."

"Steve, I very much agree with your decision. Microsoft really should make efforts in the Internet field. This strategy is undoubtedly correct, but the acquisition of Yahoo should not be a strategy."

Ballmer was silent for a while, "I have to admit, Feng, you are right."

In the recent execution process, he really regarded the acquisition of Yahoo as a strategy.

"Steve, as long as you can understand," Feng Yiping said, "I think there are many directions that we can work on, that is, acquisitions. There are also many opportunities. There is really no need to spend such a high price to acquire Yahoo."

"I can say with certainty that if Yahoo is neither acquired by us nor acquired by SoftBank this time, then one or two years later, if you look at its performance, you will definitely be thankful that you have decided to give up in due course."

"Even if it is successfully acquired by SoftBank, I think we will come to the same conclusion when we look at its development in a year or two."

Ballmer agrees very much with this. Not to mention other things, when Yahoo was acquired by SoftBank, Microsoft under his leadership would never give Yahoo a good face.

However, he hesitated to think about the nearly 40% search share that was almost at hand after the acquisition of Yahoo.

In recent months, in order to insist on acquiring Yahoo at a high price, Gates has shared the pressure, but he still bears pressure from many investors.

If you give up at this time, then all the things you did before and the things you endured are meaningless.

"Feng, if Softbank did not increase the price this time, or only increased the price by 1 billion US dollars?"

"In my estimation, it is impossible for SoftBank not to increase its prices," Feng Yiping said immediately.

He believed that most of Sun Zhengyi also saw the end of their side. He must also know that this round should be the time to decide the result.

"Although I am also sure, they will not only add 1 billion U.S. dollars, because you look at Steve, in terms of price increase, SoftBank has always been more impressive than us, only more than us, not less than us. "

Moreover, whether it is in the East or the West, an integer like 50 billion will be regarded as a node. After 50 billion, everyone will be more cautious in raising prices. SoftBank should not leave such embarrassing opportunities to itself.

"But if they only increase the price by 1 billion, then, as long as you can convince Microsoft's board of directors, I support you to increase the price by another round,"

"Perhaps in that case, we will directly add another 2 billion, raising it to 51 billion US dollars,"

"51 billion," this is a number that made Ballmer also silent for a while. He estimated that it is obviously not that difficult to convince the board of directors to accept such an offer.

However, thinking about Microsoft's revenue of 58 billion US dollars last year and a gross profit of more than 46 billion US dollars, he thinks ~www.wuxiaspot.com~ is not impossible to work hard.

"Thank you for your support, Feng,"

When he hung up the phone, he had been looking forward to it, hoping that SoftBank could stop there, or, if it was added, it would only add 1 billion US dollars.

Until the evening of the day, the situation was very optimistic. Faced with their new offensive, SoftBank has not responded.

…………

In the Softbank headquarters in Shiodome District, in the 20-odd hours after learning that the opponent raised prices again, although there was no quick response, it was not calm at all.

After learning about Sun Zhengyi's decision, many executives felt that it was no longer possible to support the company's founder as before.

The people in Tokyo rushed to the company in person, and over the phone abroad, their opinions were very consistent, "Your decision is very irrational and too risky. If you do this, you may even lose everything if you are careless."

Sun Zhengyi did not expect that at such a critical moment in determining the victory or defeat, he would encounter such huge resistance within the company.

Such unprecedented opposition made him have to take it seriously. This evening, for the first time since starting his business, he spent a lot of energy persuading his internal members and explained the great significance of the acquisition of Yahoo to SoftBank many times.

But for people like him, the greater the opposition they encounter, it will only strengthen his determination.

The work of persuasion lasted from the evening to the day, and then to the evening...Finally, in the second early morning, when the American side began to work, under the witness of all exhausted and somewhat discouraged SoftBank executives, the voice Sun Zhengyi, who was also somewhat hoarse, conveyed his decision to the American team.

This is a decision that goes beyond everyone. It is not an increase of US$1 billion or US$2 billion, but a direct increase of US$3 billion, raising the price to 51 billion in one fell swoop!